Comic Title: Action Comics #272
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: January 1961
On Sale Date: November 29, 1960 Copyright Date November 29, 1960
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1960

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "Superman's Rival, Mental Man"
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye

Reprinted In:
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #68 (1966)
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 2 TPB (2006)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #50; next appearance in Action Comics #272)

Guest Star(s)

• Aquaman (disguised as Mental Man; last appearance in Showcase #30; next appearance in Adventure Comics #280)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #50; next appearance in Superman #143)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #50; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #23)
• Perry White (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #50; next appearance in Superman #143)
• Lucy Lane (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #50; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #23)
• Lana Lang (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #22; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #23)

Villain(s)

• "Ace" Ruggles and his men (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Krypto (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #50; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #51)
• Aqualad (last appearance in Showcase #30; next appearance in Adventure Comics #280)

Synopsis:
To boost circulation, Lois Lane draws a comic strip for the Daily Planet featuring Mental Man, a super-hero more powerful than Superman. Mental Man then materializes in the Daily Planet office claiming to be real. Mental Man demonstrates his amazing abilities and proposes to Lois Lane. Lois still likes Superman, but becomes close to Mental Man.

A criminal, "Ace" Ruggles, makes a deal with the hero. In exchange for helping Mental Man with Lois, "Ace" wants the hero to knock over an armored car. Mental Man agrees, and then uses Kryptonite to apparently kill Superman.

The armored car heist is a decoy, however, designed to capture Ruggles and his men. Superman is alive, and Mental Man is revealed to have been Aquaman in disguise.